Lake Lanier Anglers are seeing spots
By Bill Vanderford

Spring will finally come to Lake Lanier during this month, and the shorelines will be ablaze with colors from the dogwoods, mountain laurel, rhododendron, and wild azaleas. Sediments deposited from recent rains have mixed with the constantly falling pollen to give the lake water a greener color this year. Nevertheless, surface temperatures will soon rise above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the spotted bass population will turn its interest to food and making love!

Spotted bass have already begun their spawning cycle, and are becoming more aggressive every day. One "sure-fire" method to catch big numbers of these one to four pound bass during this period requires the use of tiny lures that closely resemble smaller shad, which are still the main source of food for fish at Lake Lanier.

This is accomplished by employing either a leadhead jig and a 3-inch, curlytailed, Ranger plastic grub, or a small inline spinner that I designed known as the "Swirleybird". The ideal size of the leadhead is 1/16th of an ounce, but some fishermen prefer the heavier 1/8th ounce jig. Dress the jig’s hook with a 3-inch, chartreuse or white, curlytailed grub, and you’re in business. The perfect Swirleybird size is 1/8th ounce.

Though one may catch bass just by casting and reeling with the Swirleybird, learning the proper method with the jig and grub combo will guarantee success throughout the next two months. However, one must learn to go against conventional bass wisdom, especially in respect to the hook set. In fact, if the reaction to a strike is treated with a hard, upward jerk to set the hook, most spotted bass will be missed using this jig and grub rig.

Success will come when one learns to tease the spotted bass by winding the reel handle one quick revolution, followed by a continued slow retrieve. This action pulls the bait away just enough to incite the fish into taking in more of the tiny lure on its next pass. This sequence could reoccur five or six times before the angry "spot" finally tires of the game and inhales the diminutive lure.

Regardless of someone’s age, gender, or experience, these lures make it easy for anyone to catch plenty of spotted bass during the spawn at Lake Lanier. In fact, women and children with little or no fishing background are often far more successful than seasoned bass anglers. These neophytes generally listen to the instructions better, are not set in their ways, and don’t react violently to every strike. Also, they often use spincast reels that possess a much slower retrieve, which keeps the lures in the strike zone longer.

Lake Lanier would have to be considered one of the hottest prospects in the South during the spawning period. So, use these keys to open the door to some of the most exciting spring bassin’ anywhere!

Find out more about Bill Vanderford on his website http://www.fishinglanier.com, or drop him an email at JFish51@aol.com

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Reviewer Date Posted Grade Ray Lane 2/26/06